Freeland’s ‘plan to stand up to Trump’ targets $200B worth of U.S. goods
Liberal leadership contender Chrystia Freeland released Monday what she’s calling her “plan to stand up to Trump” — a policy document that includes the threat of big tariffs on U.S. goods to make the Americans pay if they go after the Canadian economy.
Freeland called on the federal government to take a hard line and “immediately publish a detailed, dollar-for-dollar retaliation list” that includes $200 billion worth of U.S. products that could be subject to Canadian trade action if President Donald Trump moves against this country.
Freeland said publishing that sort of list, before Trump even levies any tariffs, would be a sort of pre-emptive strike and a way to remind the American political establishment that coming after Canada will come at a cost.
“Being smart means retaliating where it hurts,” Freeland said.
“If President Trump imposes 25 per cent tariffs, our counterpunch must be dollar-for-dollar — and it must be precisely and painfully targeted,” she said.
She also wants to convene an “international summit” to form some sort of “coalition” of aggrieved countries that face threats from Trump. She said the summit should include leaders of Mexico, Denmark, Panama and the European Union.
Like Canada, Trump has threatened Mexico and the EU with punishing tariffs and has suggested the U.S. could forcibly annex Greenland, a Danish territory, and the Panama Canal.
“Trump thinks we are for sale and that he can push us around. This is a serious moment that demands a serious plan to fight for Canada,” Freeland said.
Liberal leadership hopeful Chrystia Freeland says dollar-for-dollar tariffs will send U.S. President Donald Trump the message that “Canada is not for sale.”
Freeland has made fighting back against Trump the centrepiece of her leadership campaign so far. She has sought to remind Liberal voters she played a crucial role in renegotiating NAFTA the last time Trump was in office.
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly said Monday that Canada is still trying to get Trump to hold off slapping tariffs on Canadian goods through diplomacy.
But, if the tariffs go ahead, Canada is ready to respond with its own measures, she said.
“We will be ready for day one,” she said.
Asked about Freeland’s call to release a list of goods that could be hit with tariffs before Trump strikes, Joly said: “We believe diplomacy can work and that’s why we’re having conversations and we won’t negotiate in front of the public.”
Joly said there’s still a chance that Canada’s arguments against tariffs will sway Trump to drop his threats.
She said Canada is the biggest customer for U.S. goods and services and, when you exclude oil exports,…
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